“I was asking if you were okay?”
“I haven’t been for a long time, but I think I am now,” I murmur and reach out, stroking the puppy. He woofs at me, and while she’s distracted, I brush her hair behind her ear. Her eyes snap up to mine, wary and full of interest.
“She’s about to start,” Mack says as he stomps over. He runs his fingers through his hair, a sure sign he’s stressed. Elijah pushes up close to us, needing the contact to ground him.
Both of them focus on Sofia, and I notice that Elijah reaches out, almost touches her hand before withdrawing. Our omega looks down at his hand and opens her mouth, almost like she’s going to say something, but, at the last minute, she turns away.
I turn my attention from Rebel to her mother. She’s wearing a deep red dress with a sweetheart neckline and white hearts all over it. A sure sign that she’s prepared to go to war over this event.
“As all of you know, my name is Lorelei Sol, and we are the Pack Makers.” She indicates the other omegas and betas. The first in line is a steel-haired, whip-thin omega who is in a pack with her retired police officer alpha. She’s in her sixties and has two adult alpha grandsons she’s trying to find packs for. Her name is Betty Houstan. Kylie Frame is a late forties beta with an obsession with romance. Her blond hair has been cut into a short bob to match her pink sundress.
And the final member is the serious and more logical Sara Vine, who is the local teacher. She’s got grey-streaked hair and has been with her alpha since they met at fourteen. She might look fierce, but she’s got a heart of gold.
“Kylie, Betty, Sara, and I have decided to take things into our own hands and help the town of Sunshine find love.”
There is a collective groan from those of us who are single. I think everyone here was roped into it via bribes, blackmail, nagging, or just trickery.
“Smitten Knot Bitten is our Valentine’s dating event. Every single person here will be matched with a pack or single, via our cute little painted stones. There will be one for each side, and then you will go on three dates that we will organise. And on Valentine’s Day you can decide if you want them to be your Valentine or not,” she says with a wide smile. “Easy peasy. So, let’s get everyone up here.”
Sebastian stomps up there muttering under his breath. He gets handed a stone the size of his palm. He doesn’t look at it, just stomps back to his spot, crosses his arms over his chest, and glares.
People file up towards them and grab their stones. I get in line and grab ours. I look down at a heart with a paw in the middle of it. The stone is beautifully painted, and I look across to see our local artist; Khione. She’s slipping away quietly, and I bet no one thought to enter her into the event. She is painfully shy.
The Sunshine Omegas go up together, while Mack takes possession of the puppy, and each one of them is given a rock. I thought for certain Felix and Asher would be together, but apparently not.
They turn, and I catch a glimpse of Sofia’s painted stone. My world stops. It’s the wrong colour. It’s got a starfish. We haven’t been matched. No, I won’t let this happen.
“Elijah,” I hiss.
“On it.”
I hear the shriek of a bird and forget about everything but scanning the skies for the threat. “Take cover!”
It calls again, even closer than it was before. That horrible shrill sound sends people into a panic.
I see the white wings of destruction and whirl, following his trajectory.
Sofia remains standing, confused and oblivious to the incoming evil. Elijah calls her name and slams into her. He covers her with his body as theseagull dive bombs them. It lands on the café sign and puffs up its feathers, looking, for all intents and purposes, like some feathered evil dinosaur. To be fair, the destruction this tiny creature has caused wouldn’t be out of place in the Jurassic.
Danger barks, glaring up at the seagull like he’s going to single-handedly take it on.
“What is that?” I hear Rebel ask.
“That’s Sergeant Sully, Sunshine’s vicious attack seagull,” Elijah snaps, glaring at the bird.
Rebel’s not the only one on the ground. Danger lunges at the gull from Mack’s arms, and it launches up, spitting out another strangled caw as it floats on the wind currents.
Felix and Asher get to their knees, reaching for their stones, but Elijah’s hand darts out, seizing one. Asher looks at him for a long moment and then sits back, scooping up the starfish.
Elijah shoves the stone into Sofia’s hand, and I let out a breath of pure relief.
“Here, you don’t want to lose this.”
He braces himself and turns to Asher, who is watching him in amusement. She shakes her head, a tiny knowing grin on her lips. I let out the breath I’m holding as Elijah turns back to Sofia.
Mack curses and rolls his shoulders as he lets the little pup down and walks towards her.
Elijah helps her up and grabs Danger. “Oh, you are such a good boy, aren’t you?” The puppy dissolves into wiggles and licks, perfectly happy to be adored again.
